Car-uncoupling device



Apr. 3, I923. 1,450,341 E. R. VIBERG CAR UNCOUPLING DEVICE Filed 006. 4, 1920 The link fits Patented Apr. 3, 1923.

1,450,341 TEN ERNEST R. VIBERG, or MONTREAL, oUEBEo, cANAnA, Assrolvoa 'ro ,srEELI NG H.

CAMPBELL, on ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI. v

. V cA mNoo PLI nG nEvIoE.

Application filed October 4, 1920: Serial No. 414,579.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it"known that subject of the King resident of the city of Montreal, in the Province of Quebec and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Uncoupling Devices, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact description of the invention.

Thisinvention relates to improvementsin uncoupling devices for cars, and the object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and eflicient connection between the coupler locking pin and the uncoupling crank.

A further object is to provide a connecting link which cannot become accidentally disconnected but which may be easily'disconnected from the coupler locking pin without the use of tools.

I, ERNEsr R. VIBERG', a

A still further object is to provide a connection which will permit of the longitudinal and oscillatory motion of a car coupler without placing any strain on the crank or without any liability of lifting the locking in. p The device consists briefly of the usual crank arm having the end of the crank provided with a large eye disposed in a horizontal plane. The link is a U-shaped member threaded through the eye of a coupler lock pin and having its arms passing through the eye of the crank; The extremities of the arms are outwardly turned or hooked and hook over the eye of the crank. quite loosely in both the eye of the crank and the eye of the pin.

In the drawings which illustrate the invention:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary end elevation of a car, showing the device in position thereon.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation, also showing the device in position.

Fig. 3 shows a modified form of link.

Referring more particularly to the draw ings, 11' designates a car coupler of any standard type and 12 the locking pin thereof provided with an eye 13. An uncoupling member 14 is suitably journalled on the end of the car and provided at its outer end with a depending handle '15 and at its inner end with a crank 16, the crank and handle being arranged at approximately right angles to one another.

According to the present invention, the

of Great Britain, and t1 crank 16 is'provided with a' cornparatively arge eye 17 which is disposed in a substan- 'ally horizontal plane so that the opening extends vertically, as clearly shown in Figures 1- and 2. 5

The uncoupling bar, preferably circular in cross section, bent midway between-its ends to U-shape and then bent outwardly at its extremities to formhooks or inverted Us 19, The central bend 20 of the member isv adapted to occupy' the eye 13 of the coupler locking pin and the "arms'21 of the member are adapted to pass upwardly and freely through the eye 17 in the crank, the hooks 19 being adapted to engage the crank eye drawing out through passes quite loosely and pin eye and crank eye so that the connection established is flexible. It will furthermore be noted'that the width of the link is considerably less than the diameter of the eye, so that the link may be moved from the vertical position in which it is illustrated in an edgewise orlateral direction to an inclined position without binding in the crank eye. The central bend 20 of the link is of sufficiently large radius toslip readily through the pin eye'and permit the movement of the link to the inclined'positions just referred to. The operation ofthe device is very simple. The link stand's'normally in about the position shown in Figures 1 and 2. When the coupler =moves longitudinally relatively of the car under the changing conditions of use, the link is tilted to an inclined position and naturally drawn slightly through the crank eye, -The distance normally existing between the crank eye and the hooks *19'is sufficient to provide for all coupler movement without bringing the hooks into close engagement with the crank eye. In other words, no load or stress will be transmitted from the coupler to the crank. As the coupler moves laterally of the car with the to prevent the link the eye The link freely through the link l8 is formed from a sway of the cars or in rounding a curve, the

link is tilted in an edgewise direction inthe crank eye but by reason of the looseness of swings the crank 16 upwardly. In the first part of this movement the eye 17 slipsupcharacter,

wardly. onnthe' link without producing any movement. As soon, however, as the eye engages the link hooks 19 the link is raised and lifts the coupler lock pin 12.

It will be readily seen that the link is not normally separable from either the locking pin or crank, since the link is restrained from escape from the pin eye by the limitations of movement imposed by the crank. In the same way, the upper end of the link cannot be drawn through the cran-k eyeon account of the double hook 19. When it is desired to remove or insert a link of this the eye 13 of brought through the eye of the crank by movementof either or both; of the members. One end of one hook 19 of the link is then inserted through the pin eye from a position above the crank eye and the link is threaded through; the pinieye until the pin eye occupies the central bend 20. The pin and crank are now allowed to assume their normal relation, with the. result that they are flexibly connected by the link.- I

While the link has been shown with its arms 21 substantially straight and parallel, it willbe understood that the invention is not thus limited, as the arms may be curved orbent in any desired manner between the hooks 1-9 and 20 or may be straight and out of parallelism. It will also be understood that the need not be completely bent back upon themselves as shown in Figure 1, but may be merely turned outwardly as shown in Figure 3. Although the link has been shown in thedrawings as occupying a single plane, it will be understood that the device may be formed to occupy more than one plane. While, for simplicity, thelink is preferably threaded directly through the lock pin eye, it will be understood that this is not essential, as the link may be connected to the lock pin by another link.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In an uncoupling device, the combination with a coupler locking pin having an eye at its upper end, and an uncoupling crank having a vertical eye at its free extremity, of a rigid link passing freely through both of said eyes, said link being angularly and longitudinally movable in the crank eye and comprising a U-shaped member outwardlyturned at its extremities.

. '2. In an uncoupling device, the combination with a coupler locking pin having an eye in its upper end, and an uncoupling member having a vertical eye, of a rigid the lock pin is.

extremities of the arms,

U-shaped link having arms of substantially equal length united at a central bend, said link being adapted for passage through the pin eye and adapted to normally engagethe pin eye at the central bend thereof, the arms of said link being of such distance apart that they will pass freely through the mcoupling member eye and of such length that during the normal relation of the lock pin and uncoupling member the extremities of the arms will lie a suitable distance. above the uncouplingmember, and books on the extremities of said link arms holding the link normally V against disengagement from the. uncoupling member.

3. In an uncoupling device, the combination of a coupler lock pin havingan eye at its upper end, an uncoupling lever provided with a vertical eye, asubstantially U-shaped link engaging the eye of the pin and having both arms passing through the lever eye, the upper extremities of said arms being turned outwardly to engage with the uncoupling lever to lift the pin and the eye of the uncoupling lever being large enough to receive the upper end of the lock pin, whereby thepartsmay be assembled in operative relation by threading the link through the eye of the pin while the head of said pin extends through the eye of the lever.

4. In an uncoupling'device, the combination of a coupler lock pin having an eye at its upper end, anuncoup-ling lever provided with an eye, and a link passing through said eye to connect the'lever and pin, the relative dimensions of the lever eye, the lower endo-f the link, and the pin head, being such that the pin head-may be extended through the lever eye to sufficient extent to permit the insertion of the link' inthe pin eye, and that the lower end of the linkmay pass through the lever eye, and the upper end of the link being of such dimension as tobe incapable of passing through the lever eye when the parts are in assembled rela tion.

I 5. In an uncoupling device, tion with a lock pin having an eye in its upper end, of an uncoupling lever provided with a vertical eye, and a substantially U- shaped link connecting said pin and lever, the sides of said link being separated throughout their length to allowJthe positioning of the link in'the pin eye, both sides of said link passing through the lever eye and engaging with the lever to lift the pin.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand. ,7

ERNEST R. VlBERG.

the combine, 

